Electric welding device



W. P. BOVARD.

ELECTRIC WELDING DEVICE. APPLIcArloN FILED 0cT.`24, 1919.

'plication of rail bonds to rails,

UNITED sTATEs PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM P.BOVARD, 0F MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO BRASSCOMPANY,

OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC WELDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 24, 1919. Serial No. 382,929.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. BovARD, acitizen of the United States ot' America, residing at Mansfield, in thecounty of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric Welding Devices, of which the followinis a specification.

y invention relates to4 an electric control mechanism and moreparticularly -to that form of device adapted to reduce the flow ofcurrent and control the same for use in electric welding.

One object of my invention' is to provide a device which is compact,light and easily portable whereby the current from a source of largesupply can be reduced to the proper amount for welding and maintainedreasonably constant. This is particularly beneficial when it is desiredto weld in mines where the room is limited and conditionsto be met aresevere.

Another object of m invention is to provide a device by whic the currentsupply can be controlled at the electrode holder which is usuallylocated at a distance from the device proper.

My invention consists in the combination and arrangement of partssubstantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed. Theaccompanyin drawingsjshow the device as particular y adapted 'forrailjjbond. welding, receiving current from a trolley wire, and will beso described although it is ap licable to other` classes of welding.

n the drawing Figure 1 shows my device in perspective in its completeform and arrangement of parts.

Fig. 2 shows one of the corner or spacing posts and the manner ofconnecting it to the frame member.

Fig. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of the control switches forming a partof my device and enlar ed as compared with the same shown in `ig. 1.

M invention is particularly adapted for use 1n welding, as for instancein the apwelding bars in place or filling up low spots etc., and whenthe source of electric supply is the trolley wire and ground and theamount of current available is much greater than required.

Under such conditions it is desirable to splice 1n rails,

have a device which will reduce the amount of current which can be madeavailable at` the arc and which cannot exceed a maximum amount asdetermined b the control apparatus. It is also desirab e to be able tocontrol the arc as to off and on by the operator of the arc and thisrequires mechanism under his control and adjacent to the point ofapplication which is the electrode holder. These features, together withli htness and compactness, together with ot ers more fully set forth inmy further description, are incorporated in my invention.

In Fig. 1 I show an upper frame 1 and a lower frame 2 composed referablyof structural iron on account ofp itslightness and strength for mypurpose. For simplicity and rigidity I prefer to weld the corners of thefour sides together to form a one-piece frame to which there is noyielding -o the sides relatively to each other, but which maintains itscorner angles rigid. The pieces forming the sides of the frame can belapped and welded as shown or other well known joints used such as thewelded butt joint or the ordinary lap joint.

To maintain the frames 1 and 2 in a relaeach other, I provide spacingmembers 3 which are threaded at both ends to provide `means foradjusting the distance between the frames land 2. Ordinarily the spacingmembers are secured to the frame as shown in Fig. 2 by means of runningnuts 4 top and bottom of the frame members. In order to further increasethe rigidity of the frame I provide brace members '5 which are shown assecured in place by the spacing bars 3 and nuts 4.

As the trolley circuit to which the device is to be connected is agrounded circuit, it is'advisable to insulate the frame from the groundand this I do by providing insulating members 6 which are shown assecured to the lower end of the spacing members and tothe frame.

In order to conveniently carry the device from point to point I providehandles 7 which may be rotated back and reduce the amount of space takenup by the device which is very important in mines and other crowdedplaces. I show the handles as mounted to rotate on the spacing membersand means in the form of hooks 8 for receiving the handles when rotatedback, out of tively spaced relation to Patented May 25,'1920.

use. To bring the handles into use it is only necessary to lift them upas they are movable longitudinally of the spacing member, swing themaround into position and raise them farther until the recess 9 enga esthe pin 10 when they are locked from further rotation. The dotted'linesshows the lower right hand handle in the service or operating position.To protect the workmen from injury when moving the device and withcurrent on thedevice I provide insulated handle grips 1-1.

As there will be times when it is convenient and desirable to mount thedevice on they track and move it along the same, I provide Wheels 12mounted on a shaft or axle 13 which in turn is secured to the infsulators 6.

To protect the electrical apparatus held by the device from falling coaland other l objects and protect the workmen and others from contactingwith the electrical apparatus, I. provide a heavy screen 14 which forclearness is shown only in one corner vof the top frame but which ismade'to' cover the entire top of the device and the sides likewise.

The electrical features of my invention comprise resistance units 15-15which contain the resistance element 16. The unit may be of any requirednumberfand the resistance element '16 arranged in any well lknownmannervto give the proper current value at the welding arc. I have shownand repre-- sentedthe elements as connected in series and one end of theconnected elements attached to a cable 17. The otherrend 'oftheconnected resistance elements is connected to the solenoid of anoverload swi h 18 and then to the make and break contact 19-20, whichare normally open, of a circuit breaker and which in turn connects tothe cable 21 which is arrangedto connect to a trolley wire or othersource of current supply. One end of the cable 17 is provided with anelectrode holder 22.

The above description-completes the main current circuit and I willnowfdescribe the control circuit by means of which the su ply of currentto the electrode is cut o or on by the operator at will and the currentisautomaticall cut off when the current exceeds a pre etermined amountdue tov a uctuation in the trolley voltage or other causes.

Leading from the contact at the end of the cable 21 is Aa circuitwhich'is connected to the make and break contact 23 of the overloadswitch 18. From the terminal 24 the control circuit leads tothe solenoid25, through the interposed resistance 26; the resistance beingr adjustedlto the voltage at the source to reduce the current value in the controlcircuit to a very small amount. The contacts 23 and 24 are connected bymeans cally a generator and the cable 21 is con-.

nected to the generator line 21 and the other generator line 22 isconnected to the ground G thus completing the circuit as in the case ofwelding a rail. Or the generator line 21 could be connected to the rail3.1 direct and secure the same results. This invention could also beapplied to the-welding of various objects by substituting such objectsfor the rail 31A and connecting the line 21 thereto.

The operation of the electrical apparatus just described is as'follows`The main circuit consists of the cable 21 connected to the trolley andthrough which the current flows, through the connector 29 to themake andbreak contact lll-20, then throughthe solenoid 18, resistance element16, cable I7-\\and electrode 30 to the rail 31 and then to the ground G.The circuit in passing through the solenoid 18 does not operate the makeand break contact 23-24-27 unless the current flowing in the maincircuit exceeds a predetermined value in which case the contacts areseparated through the raising of the armature and contactor 27 therebyopening the control circuit.

The control circuit functions largely to operate the contact 19-20 ofthe circuit breaker switch. When the operator is ready to weld he firstconnects the cable 21 to the trolley or other source. He then appliesthe electrode 30 to the rail 31 and closes the switch 28. Upon closingthe switch 28 the control circuit is completed between the trolley andthe-ground and the current flows through the solenoid 25, magnetizingthe same and closing the circuit between contacts 19-20 therebycompleting the main current circuit. Upon openin the switch 28 thesolenoid 25 is deniagnetized and the contacts 1 9-20 open and current iscut off from the electrode.

In order lto be able to adjust the resistance element to vary thecurrent forming the welding arc, I provide connectors 32 at dif` ferentoints on the resistance elements and to Whic the cable 33 may beattached as de.- sired, thereby increasing or-decreasing the amount ofcurrent at the arc.

It will be seen that I have arranged 'a simple, compact device whichincorporates many valuable features for a device 'of the characterdescribed and what I claim is l. In electric welding, an arc weldingcirfor forming an arc, an electrically operated contacting device in thecircuit for opening and closing the circuit, a separate control circuitconnected to the source of supply for controlling the electricallyoperated contactdevice and an electrically operated switch for openingand closing the control circuit and operated by the current forming thearc when the current exceeds a predetermined amount.

2. In electric welding, an arc welding circuit connected to a source ofsupply, a resistance element in the circuit, an electrode in the circuitadapted to form an arc upon making and breakingthe contact at thatpoint, a contact device in the circuit for opening and closing the arccircuit at will of the operator, a control circuit connected to thesource of supply and having interposed therein a solenoid for operatingthe contact device in the arc welding circuit, a normally closed contactdevice in the control circuit Which is opened by a solenoid in the arcWelding circuit whenever the current in the Welding circuit exceeds apredetermined amount. Y

3. In electric welding, an arc welding circuit connected to a source ofsupply, a resistance element in the circuit, an electrode in the circuitadapted to form an arc upon making and breakin the circuit at thatpoint, a ,contact device in the circuit for opening and closing the `arccircuit at will of the operator, a control circuit connected to thesource of supply and having interposed therein a solenoid for operatingthe contact device in trol circuit which is opened by asolenoid in thearc Welding circuit whenever the current and manually? loperated meansfor controlling the current 'in' the con- 1 trol circuit for opening andclosing thecontact device in the arc welding circuit. 4.- In electricwelding, an arc welding circuit connected to a source of sup ly, an electrode in the circuit adapted to orm an arc upon making and breaking thecircuit at that point, a contact device inthe circuit for opening andclosing .the arc circuit at will ofthe operator, a control circuit foroperating the contact device and receiving current from the same sourceas the welding circuit and provided with a plurality of `means foroperating the contact device in the welding circuit, one means beingmanually controlled and the other means being automatically controlledby the current in the welding circuit.

5. In electric welding, a welding circuit and a control circuit eachconnected to the same source of" supply, electro-responsive means in thewelding circuit for opening and closing the control circuitautomatically -rent control mechanism,

`the arc welding circuitJ avnormally closed contact device in theconwith a predetermined current change in the welding circuit,electro-responsive means in the control circuit for opening and closingthe Weldin circuit and manually operated means in tv e control circuitfor operating the electro-responsive means in the control circuit.

6. In electric welding, a welding arc circuit arranged to be opened andclosed at a point external to the arc,` a control circuit adapted to beclosed at the arc, electro-responsive means in the control circuitarranged to open or close the Welding circuit after the welding circuithas been closed at the point of arc, and means in the control circuit tooperate the electroeresponsive device after the welding and controlcircuitsy have been closed at the arc.

7. In electric welding, a welding arc circuitA comprising a source ofelectro-motive force and two relatively movable terminals between whichan arc is to be drawn; a current controlling mechanism, a switch foropening and closing the Welding circuit and operated byelectro-responsive mechanism in the auxiliary circuit and anelectro-responsive mechanism operated by current in the welding circuitto open and close the auxiliary circuit, all in the Welding circuit; anauxiliary circuit in shunt around the curswitch in the Welding circuitand electroresponsive mechanism in the welding circuit; said auxiliarycircuit adapted to be energized and close the switch in the weldingcircuit when the movable terminals are contacted.

8. In electric Welding, a welding arc circuit to carry heavy current forwelding and an'auxiliary orcontrol circuit to carry relatively smallcurrent, in shunts; means in the welding circuit for controlling thecurrent magnitude; two relatively movable terminals between which awelding arc is to be drawn;

means in the Welding circuit for opening or closing the welding circuitat a point re* mote to the point of welding; means in the auxiliarycircuit adjacent the point of Welding for controlling the means in theWelding circuit when the circuit is closed at the point of welding. A

9. In electric welding, an arc welding circuit connected to a source ofsupply, a current control mechanism'in the circuit, two relativelymovable terminals between which a Welding arc is to be drawn, anelectroresponsive contact device in the circuit for opening and closingthe welding circuit at will of the operator, a control circuit connectedto the source of supply and to the electro-responsive device andmanually operated means in the control circuit and adjacent the point ofWelding for controlling the operation of the electro-responsive deviceto open and close the Welding circuit.

l 10. In electric welding, a welding circuitl connected to a source ofsupply and adapted to be closed at the point of welding before currentflows therethrough, two relatively movable terminals between whichwelding is to take place, and electro-responsive means for opening thewelding circuit at a point remote from the point of Welding at apredetermined value of the current flowing in the welding circuit.

11. A portable device adapted to support electric welding controlapparatus. comprising a frame, handle secured to the frame adapted toswing horizontally (when the frame is in normal position) into and outof operative position at will and move vertically to engage holdingmeans, and means to hold the handles in either position.

l2. A portable device adapted to support electric welding controlapparatus comprising a frame consisting of upper and lower members,means separating the frame members and adapted to adjust the separationbetween the frame members, handles pivotally secured to the separatingmeans to swlng in a horizontal plane and means to

